New-look Warriors planning on more balanced offense | Boys basketball

Many of the faces have changed for the Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball team, but the Warriors remained committed to their fast-paced, no-holds-barred defensive approach to the game.

Running sprints at practice continues to be a daily activity for the team.

“Our first focus is conditioning and getting up and down the court,” senior forward Kameron Eck said. “We want to be quick and push teams. We thrive off making other teams uncomfortable.”

The Warriors’ lineup has undergone a major overhaul with senior guard Noah Becker the lone returning starter.

Edmonds-Woodway coach Robert Brown said he and his coaching staff need to be patient as players settle into their new roles.

The immediate challenges for the Warriors are lack of varsity experience and size.

“Inexperienced guys are going to have grow up,” Brown said. “We’re not in a hurry. They’re going to have to grow, get more mature with the decision-making and understanding the mentality and the intensity they have to play with at the varsity level.”

Brown will be relying to Becker to be a leader.

“I need Noah to just be steady,” Brown said. “He loves to play basketball.”

Eck saw action off the bench and at 6-foot-5, he is the Warriors’ tallest player.

“I anticipate Kam being a big part of what we are,” Brown said.

The Warriors generally aren’t focused on the half court game with more of an emphasis on the transition game and 3-point shots.

Brown is looking at senior Uchenna Acholonu and sophomore Chinedu Acholonu, Uchenna’s younger brother, to fill the point guard duties.

But the Edmonds-Woodway coach added that sophomore Mutdung Bol and senior Ezekiel Tomas also could see time at the position.

The last couple of seasons Edmonds-Woodway’s offense has featured two standout offensive players in David Woodard and Keaton McKay, who averaged 25 and 19 points per game, respectively.

This year the Warriors are planning on a more balanced offense.

“It will be more evenly spread out,” Eck said.

Having so many new starters means the Warriors are working to develop team chemistry and familiarity with each other. It’s taking some time.

“We’re just trying to get the feel of playing together,” Becker said.

Brown eventually hopes the players will be able to communicate with just a look rather than by talking.

Getting that in sync with one another takes time, he said.

“It’s a work in progress right now. I don’t think their comfort is quite there yet,” Brown said.

Edmonds-Woodway is carrying only nine players on varsity. Brown said that the players on junior varsity are going to develop better by playing rather than sitting on the varsity bench. All nine varsity players are going to see action.

“Everybody is going to get their chance this season to be a very important part of the program,” Brown said. “I expect all nine to play. I expect all nine to contribute. I expect all nine to play hard.”